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Andy Richardson

Michael Crabtree

Little respect for half of 2016's top 1-2 duo

In my dynasty league I'm trying to acquire more rookie draft picks, so I'm shopping wide receivers, an area where I have pretty good depth. It's a little shocking how little interest there is in Oakland's Michael Crabtree.

In fairness, I'm the one looking to deal him, so right there it's clear that I myself have some reservations about him. But I'm not sure why. He's 29 -- a year older than Dez Bryant. He's gone over 1,000 receiving yards, or close to it, with 85-89 catches and 8-9 TDs in each of his two seasons in Oakland. He was a top-10 wideout in our PPR scoring system last year, 17th the previous season. But nobody wants to give up anything noteworthy for him.

One owner told me he expects Amari Cooper to break out into more of a go-to guy in 2017, with Crabtree more of a supporting player. And that seems to be one prevailing opinion out there. But they're different kinds of players, with Cooper having a little more downfield potential and Crabtree running shorter routes -- and more effective around the goal line. Crabtree has caught 17 TDs the last two seasons, Cooper 11. Maybe Cooper is more talented. But why should those numbers change in 2017?

Perhaps more importantly, Oakland's passing game really runs through that duo. Seth Roberts shows up to catch a few touchdowns, but otherwise isn't a big part of the passing game. The tight ends aren't hugely involved, which signing Jared Cook won't necessarily change.

The table below shows combined numbers from wide receiver duos last season. No pair caught more passes than Cooper-Crabtree. Only two had more yards, and only 5 had more touchdowns.

I suspect Crabtree will be drafted a bunch of rounds later than Cooper this season, as usual. And that he'll be on a lot of my fantasy teams.

WIDE RECEIVER DUOS, 2016
TeamNo. 1No. 2NoYdsTD
Oak.Amari CooperMichael Crabtree172215613
G.B.Jordy NelsonDavante Adams172225426
N.O.Brandin CooksMichael Thomas170231017
Den.Demaryius ThomasEmmanuel Sanders169211510
NYGOdell Beckham Jr.Sterling Shepard166205018
Pitt.Antonio BrownEli Rogers154187815
Minn.Adam ThielenStefon Diggs15318708
T.B.Mike EvansAdam Humphries151194314
Mia.Jarvis LandryDeVante Parker15018808
Det.Golden TateMarvin Jones14620078
Balt.Mike WallaceSteve Smith14218169
Atl.Julio JonesMohamed Sanu142206210
Ariz.Larry FitzgeraldJ.J. Nelson141159112
Jac.Allen RobinsonMarqise Lee13617349
N.E.Julian EdelmanChris Hogan13617867
Sea.Doug BaldwinTyler Lockett13517258
Wash.Pierre GarconDeSean Jackson13520467
Cin.A.J. GreenBrandon LaFell130182610
S.D.Tyrell WilliamsDontrelle Inman127186911
Hou.DeAndre HopkinsWill Fuller12515896
Dall.Cole BeasleyDez Bryant125162913
Ind.T.Y. HiltonPhillip Dorsett12419768
Chi.Cameron MeredithAlshon Jeffery11817096
NYJQuincy EnunwaBrandon Marshall11716457
Car.Kelvin BenjaminTed Ginn117169311
Clev.Terrelle PryorCorey Coleman11014207
Phil.Jordan MatthewsDorial Green-Beckham10911965
L.A.Kenny BrittBrian Quick10915668
Tenn.Rishard MatthewsTajae Sharpe106146711
K.C.Tyreek HillJeremy Maclin10511298
S.F.Jeremy KerleyQuinton Patton10110753
Buff.Robert WoodsMarquise Goodwin8010444

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